Karnataka: Dalits Allege Boycott For Reporting Rape Against Upper Caste Man

Members of an upper caste community in a village in Yadgir district in Karnataka have allegedly boycotted people from the Dalit community after a Dalit family filed a rape complaint against an upper-caste man.

Residing in Yadgiri’s Bapparaga village in Hunsagi taluk, the Dalit family filed a police complaint stating that their 15-year-old daughter was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old upper caste man who promised to marry her. Following the child’s fifth month of pregnancy, her family learnt of the crime and proceeded to file a complaint.

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The child’s parents reported the crime on August 12 at the Narayanpur police station. A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case has been registered against the accused. As per reports, the accused refused to marry her, citing her caste, and asked her to get an abortion. Reportedly, on September 9, the upper-caste community in Bapparaga village imposed a social boycott on the family.

Leaders from the upper caste community sent messages asking the family for a compromise; however, the Dalit family rejected the offer and insisted on strict action against the accused.

A local resident told media houses that shopkeepers were instructed to not sell groceries, essential items, or school supplies to Dalit families, forcing them to travel long distances to buy daily essentials.

The family, reportedly, has also been on the receiving end of threats and intimidation to pressurise them from withdrawing their complaint. An audio recording surfaced where shopkeepers can be heard expressing their dilemma following the strict instructions given to them by the village leaders.

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Surpur DSP Javed Inamdar visited the village on Thursday night after finding out about the social boycott. Police official G. Sangeetha oversaw a meeting held to resolve the matter among the villagers on Friday. The elders of the village, however, declined allegations of issuing a boycott order against the Dalit community. A case has been registered at the Narayanpur police station.